Toe pads



Nov. 22, 1955 H. A. BURGIO 2,724,382

TOE PADS Original Filed June 30, 1951 IN VENTOR ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 234,630,June 30, 1951. This application March 27, 1952, SerialNo. 278,917

3 Claims. (Cl. 12881) The present invention relates to improvements intoe pads, this application being a continuation in part of theapplication filed June 30, 1951, Serial No. 234,630, now abandoned, forFoot Pads, one object of the present invention being the provision of atoe pad carried upon a base, and in which the pad is semi-teardropshaped, so that the larger end will fit adjacent the large toe adjacentthe joints of the second, third and fourth toe, tapering from the innerto the outer portion of the foot and between the stocking, hose or sockand the bottom of the foot, thus placing the toe-pad directly in contactwith the bare portion of the foot.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a pad inwhich the portion adjacent the foot is absorbent, including theteardrop-shaped pad, which is preferably made of uncovered foam orsponge rubber, thus lending porosity to these parts and taking care ofany undue perspiration at the underside of the foot and the joints ofthe toes with their respective metatarsal bones.

The main feature of this toe pad, the result of considerable study andexperimenting, resides in the semi-tear drop or curved triangular shapedprojection carried upon the upper portion of the fiat carrying surface.This semitear drop has been scientifically designed and calculated insize to fit under the arch formed by the first, second and thirdphalanges of the second, third and fourth toes, so that the semi-teardrop acts as a buttress at these points against the concomitant heads ofthe second, third and fourth metatarsal bones of the fore-foot. Thusthis action tends to absorb foot and body shock and thus assists inimproving posture and gait of the wearer.

Also the stocking or hose, or in fact any removable toe or fore footcovering is necessary to hold this toe pad in place, as it is no part ofthe shoe proper, and is never carried by the shoe. Thus this toe pad isinserted into the toe of the stocking or hose, and the latter properlyplaced on the foot, so that the stocking or hose holds the toe pad withthe semi-tear drop in the proper place under the toes.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and the advantagesthereof fully appreciated, attention is invited to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a top view of toe pad used upon the left foot and Figure 2is a similar view of the pad for the right foot.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a semi-tear dropshaped resilient absorbent, preferably foam rubber, pad, which has theenlarged domed portion 2, the lower inwardly curved portion 3, andreduced end 4, and the long outwardly curved portion 5, the undersidebeing fiat to rest upon and be adhesively attached to fiat supportingsheet 8 of impervious material. In Fig. 3, it will be noted the curvedupper surface 6, which leads from the reduced end 4 to the dome 2, andforms the exposed surface of the pad, while the pads base is fiat andrests upon and is attached to the upper edge of sheet 8.

.To providea foot engaging absorbent portion for the toe pad, 8. sheet 9of a porous fabric is attached adhesively to the upper face at the outeredge of the sheet 8, as at 10, while at the portion where the pad 1projects, an openingis formed in the sheet 9, with the upstanding edgeor rim 11, adhesively attached to the abutting portion of the pad 1, theedge 5 of the pad and the rim portion thereat being substantiallyparallel with the toe end of the sheets 8 and 9. It will be noted thatthe main pad at the portion 10, and particularly the two sheets taperoutwardly, so that no sharp cutting edges that might injure theunderside of the toes or the sole of the foot are present.

In use this complete pad is preferably inserted in the toe of the hoseor stocking, with a pad 1 positioned so that when the hose or stockingis placed upon the foot, the pad 1 will fit directly below the joints ofthe second, third and fourth toe, with the larger end of the semi-teardrop shaped pad nearer the large toe, and with the supporting sheetswithin the hose or stocking with the absorbent sheet 9 against theunderside or sole of the foot.

The sheet 9, being made of a slightly stretchable material, has alimited movement back and forth and away from the sheet 8, so that anymoisture from the foot is absorbed and there is no adhering of the twosheets, and as the sheet 8 is made of an impervious, substantiallynonstretchable material as rubber or rubber and fabric, the complete padholds its shape, and can be washed when necessary to provide the desiredsanitary toe-pad.

It is also within the scope of this invention to dispense with thenon-absorbent sheet 8, and mold the member 1 and the sheet 9 as one,when made entirely of foam or sponge rubber. In this instance theexposed surfaces of the member 1 and the sheet 9 are porous andtherefore absorbent, and can be washed when necessary to be sanitary. Inthis instance the rim 11 is dispensed with.

From the foregoing, it is evident that a toe pad has been so designed asto be readily put in position by slipping it into the toe of the footcovering, as a. stocking, and thereby provide a buttress at the toejoints against the concomitant heads of the second, third, and fourthmetatarsal bones, and in such a position as to absorb foot and bodyshock on weight bearing, thus improving the posture and gait of theperson wearing the same.

Also the semi-tear drop has been scientifically designed so that itslength is a minimum of 1 inch to a maximum of 2 inches, its width aminimum of inch to a maximum of 1% inches, while its height is from inchto 1 inch. This calculation being such that when used it fits under thearch formed by the first, second and third phalanges of the second,third and fourth toes, to act as a buttress as above set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. A stocking insert comprising a pad member, including a molded articlemade of foam rubber and in which such article comprises a supportingsheet having a curved forward edge, a semi-tear drop shaped memberattached to the supporting member, and the forward out line of which isadjacent to and parallels substantially a greater portion of the curvedforward edge of the supporting sheet, whereby the semi-tear drop shapedmember acts as a buttress under the second, third and fourth metatarsaljoints against the concomitant heads of such joints.

2. A stocking insert comprising a pad member, including a support, and asemi-tear drop shaped projection attached to and carried upon one faceof the support and transversely of the forward end thereof, the entirepad member being so constructed as to present the semi-tear drop shapedprojection directly below the arch formed by the first, second and thirdphalanges of the: second, third and fourth toes to act as a buttress atthis point against the concomitant heads of the second, third and fourthmetatarsal bones of the fore-foot.

, 3. A stocking insert comprising a pad member, consisting of a flatmember, and a semi-tear drop shaped cushion attached to and carried uponone face of said member near the forward endthereof; the tapered-end ofsaid semi-tear drop shaped cushion being adjacent the outer side of theflat member, whereby when a stocking is upon the foot, the cushion fitsand is held by the stocking below the arch formed by the first, secondand third phalanges of the second, third and fourth toes, and wherebysaid semi-tear drop shaped cushion forms a buttress at this locationagainst the concomitant heads of v the second, third and fourthmetatarsal-bones of the forefoot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,730,466 Mallott Oct. 8, 1929 2,381,846 Thomas Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGNPATENTS 336,694 Italy Feb. 20, 1936 394,230 Great Britain June 22, 1933664,800 Great Britain Jan. 9, 1952

